Theme : UN
SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES THOROUGH REFORM OF IVORIAN DEFENCE, SECURITY
FORCES
Following is the text of remarks, as delivered by Secretary-General Kofi
Annan, to the meeting on the follow-up mechanisms for the peace agreement
on Côte d'Ivoire in Paris, on 25 January:
We are meeting here today to endorse the agreement that puts an end to
the conflict that has been ravaging Côte d'Ivoire for several months.
This agreement reflects the determination of the parties to redirect
their energies towards the welfare and progress of all Ivorians.
On this day of hope for Côte d'Ivoire, I should like to thank all
those who contributed to this phase in the settlement of the crisis.
First are the Ivorian parties, who were able to overcome their differences
and focus on dialogue. Next is the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS), which facilitated an agreement for the cessation of hostilities.
I should also like to thank the African Union, which, together with ECOWAS,
has succeeded in keeping the parties to the conflict in contact with each
other, reducing tension and creating an atmosphere of peace.
I also want to thank President Bongo for his unceasing efforts on behalf
of peace in Africa.
Lastly, I should like to thank France, which successfully conducted the
negotiations that led to this peace agreement. Mr. President, we are grateful
to you and your team for your efforts.
And I cannot continue without congratulating Mr. Diarra on his recent
appointment. He has my every wish for success.
But we all know that this agreement is only the beginning. The real
hard work -- the determined, sustained and good faith implementation of
the agreement -- now begins.
__________
* Reissued to replace first eight paragraphs of text originally issued
in
French.
- 2 - Press Release SG/SM/8589/Rev.1
AFR/547/Rev.1
27 January 2003
The inspiration for viable and sustainable peace must come from you –-
the leaders of Côte d’Ivoire. As I did this morning, I appeal
to you once again not to let down the people, the country and the region.
The purpose of this meeting is to consider how the peace agreement should
be implemented and how compliance with its provisions should be verified;
and to devise an appropriate mechanism to monitor performance.
On the military side, given the Marcoussis agreement, the impending formation
of a government of national unity, the presence of French troops, and
the gradual deployment of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) troops, it should be very quickly possible to consolidate the
ceasefire, begin disarmament, and help the Government to ensure that life
returns to normal. I urge the international community to provide ECOWAS
with all the support that was promised at the donors’ conference
in Paris on 14 December, so that it can play its part effectively.
I, on my part, will ask the Security Council to continue to support the
peace process and the agreement you have concluded here in Paris, and
to determine what further concrete steps it should take to support its
implementation. I also intend to designate a Special Representative to
work with you.
But there can be neither lasting peace nor security in Côte d’Ivoire
without a thorough reform of the Ivorian defence and security forces.
I urge the parties to set about this task without delay, and I ask Côte
d’Ivoire’s bilateral partners to supply them with the expertise
and resources needed.
On the civilian and political side, the United Nations will draw on the
experience it has gained in the management of complex political situations,
around the world, to advise and assist you, as you press ahead with the
implementation of the agreement you have signed. The tasks include reviving
the national economy, rebuilding the administration and its presence throughout
the country, reforming the electoral and judicial system, assisting displaced
persons and refugees, and promoting national reconciliation.
It is also essential to provide a mechanism that can uncover all the
human rights violations that have been committed. The perpetrators of
these acts must be identified and brought to justice, whoever and wherever
they may be. As you know, a United Nations team visited Côte d’Ivoire
recently to investigate human rights abuses, and its report will be released
shortly. Measures are also needed to guarantee respect for the rule of
law -– including human rights and international humanitarian law
-– from now on.
The United Nations will be especially vigilant in making sure that effective
measures are taken for this purpose, and will work with you closely.
As agreed by the parties, an international follow-up committee will be
established to facilitate the monitoring of compliance with the agreement.
The committee will be based in Abidjan, and will include representatives
of ECOWAS,
- 3 - Press Release SG/SM/8589/Rev.1
AFR/547/Rev.1
27 January 2003
the African Union, the European Union, France, the G-8, the World Bank,
the International Monetary Fund, the International Organization of Francophonie,
and, of course, my own Special Representative.
I hope this committee can start work very quickly -- preferably holding
its first meeting early next month. Its first task should be to draw up,
in close collaboration with the Ivorian Government, a timetable for the
implementation of the agreement. The Summit may wish to request it explicitly
to do so.
The effectiveness of the follow-up mechanisms depends first and foremost
on the parties themselves. But we must do everything in our power to help
them achieve quick results. Let us not betray the hopes of the people
of Côte d’Ivoire.
Original address of this text :
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/sgsm8589Rev1.doc.htm
Please copy this address to the address bar of your
internet browser and press the "enter" key.
(We prefer not to put actual links because
often page locations change and then our log files get cluttered with
error messages
- if the address does not work try to find it from the homepage of the
website in question).
|
